US2751134A - Bag filling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1956 c. B. WALLDOW 2,751,134

BAG FILLING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Shaw. 1.

r1 E. l

INITIAL PUFF a LOWER unws o e/v r0 am BAG. E 1.5 a

54s HOLDING R00 AGIT'ATED.

GRIP/E BAG WITHDRAW FROM MAGAZINE.

FL/PPER TONGUE DRAWN DOWN- FEODUCT M/SERTED INTO HOPPER.

FA/E

SECOND PUFF OF AIR.

GATE OPENS EELEASM/G PRODUCT.

INVENTOR. CA/ez. B. WALLDOW Fl/PFEQ TONGUE SWINGS UP I IEI 3 GATE CLosES J June 19, 1956 Filed Aug. 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. C421. 8. W441. now

HIS A [TUBA/715 June 19, 1956 c. B. WALLDOW 2,751,134

BAG FILLING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CARL B. WALLDOW June 19, 1956 c. B. WALLDOW 2,751,134

BAG FILLING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 1'7, 1953 5 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 b I 35 .-'l 34 3o 37 29 INVENTOR. 61421. B. WALLDOW W mam W06 i.

AITOR/VEYS tes 2,151,134 AG L NG MECH S pp ea i ngn 1953,v Seria NQ- 37 1.511! 24 Claims. or. 226-419,).

T Pr s t nv t n relates to ba gin m chines and pertains more particularly to a machine for inserting vari; ous types of merchandise into bags which are supplied, one at a time, from a stack thereof in the machine.

In the past, various types of mechanisms have been pro; vided for filling bags of paper and other material. Most of such prior machines, however, have been limited in the type of fill material which they were able to handle suc: cessfully, and many of them have been rather QQIDPli: cated.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved bag filling machine for inserting quantities of various types of merchandise into bags, which are automatically discharged from the machine upon completion of each bag filling operation. The invention also. provides an improved bag feeding arrangement whereby the bags are picked off one at a time from the bottom of a stack thereof in the machine, are opened, and are presented in open position for receiving merchandise from the filling machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im; proved hopper structure whereby required quantities of merchandise are received and retained in position to be readily insertible in a bag which is gripped to enclose one end of the hopper.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved, tilting hopper operating arrangement, the hopper being provided with closure means on an end thereof which, when opened, grips a bag in open condition QYer th en f h opp Another object of the invention is to provide a tilting hopper with means for supporting a bag in open-mouth condition over one end of a hopper, the hopper being provided with releasable means for retaining the merchandise until the hopper reaches a predetermined tilted position, whereupon the merchandise is released for gravitation into the bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved timing and actuating means whereby various parts of the mechanism are positively operated at required points in the cycle of operation of the machine.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, comprising four sheets, wherein: u

Fig. 1 is a small perspective view of a comp ete bag filling machine embodying the present invention, as it appears when enclosed in a housing ready for use Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of the opposite side of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with the housing removed, portions being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view indicating an operative cycle of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary lefthand side elevational view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 portions being broken away, and other portions being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

atent U 2,751,134 P tent d Jane 19, 1956 Fig. 6. is an end View of the triangular, bag-perforating tip of'a bag supporting spindle.

'Fig. 7 isi'a fragmentary side elevational view taken from the opposite side from Fig. 3, showing the, lower portion of the bag supporting spike.

Fig. 8 is a further enlarged rear or discharge end view of the lower portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper portion of the bag magazine being broken a y Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a side elevational view of the two cams which control the timed Operation e h p n a bl sts, o the ba ipp co t l s e oid respee ivelv- Fig. it) is a diagrammatic view in the nature of a side tiena i f t e h pp n hhn e sh w g t. i t npniest position, n a s ow n p rt s here fi eat't c mp ti n f a e nw y has-fi li s roke thereof. v

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through one of the rubber bag-gripping elements with an electrical contact member mounted therein.

F sa P p v ew of a s pa ka whieh fa a es n e t bags i he ma h n n o r q eet h b s fr a e r n shipmen li s a Per i eet ve ie of a. P e erre enn oi bag for use with the machine, and i g. 14 1s a nee nh iew ta en n itudi all thr ugh e p cka e how n F 2 t r ht an le to -the. lane of the bags therein.

n n ra ba fi l me han sm n the esent invention comprises a rectangular angle iron frame A with the portions thereof bolted or welded together in a usual manner. A motor platform 20. is provided on the frame A and an electric drive motor 21 is mounted on the platform 20. A bag storage and feeding magazine B is. provided on the frame A, and a pivotally mounted hopper assembly C is pivotally mounted on the. frame A to swing from an upward, forward position as shown in Fig. 4, and in solid lines in Fig. 10., rearwardlyand downwardly, picking a bag off the bottom of the magazine 13 and discharging the contents of the hopper therein. The t r 21 i nn c y a d e elt 22 in dri e canventional type of speed reducer 23, which rotates a hop- P r actuating ran r (F s 2 an 4). at a. leeted. relatively slow rate of rotation,

A s tab speed o t e o t e h per ac uat n crank arm 24 may be approximately 3Q. R. B. M., but this pe ma be increased on eene sed as requi d n a wel known hn n e tr e num r o has fil in cyc es pe minute whi h. h ma h ne. s. nten ed o p r o n l t cycle of r a on of the. h pper act ating arm 24 is required for each bag filling; operation of the machine.

A pair of timing disk cams 27 and 23 (Figs. 2', 8. and 9) r s em d. t h shaft 9 the. spe d: ducer 23 to rotate in unison with the crank arm 24. The timing ent 27 n o ro the peration of s r pp ng and opening mechanism to be described later herein. The hopper actuating arm 24 is connected by a link 29 (Figs. 2 ah a p r of ho p u p rt a t-he 1 a 1 which are pivotally mounted on a shaft 32, in a bracket 33 ured to th am A he hoppe s ppo m is straight, and has driven connection with the link 29 bya bolt 34 which is mounted in an ear $5 on the arm 31 and rides in an elongated slot 3'1 in the link 29. The slot 37 permits a desired amount of lost; IIIOt O T between the driving m e he pper support a m 31 to cause the hopper support arms 30 and 31 to dwell momentarily at the upper end of each operative cycle thereofto pro ide a tim in er al o refi ling; th h pper The h pp pp r arm 1 (Fi s 2 4. and 10) a laterally ofifset L-shaped extension arm 38 thereon in the J) nature of a bellcrank lever. The outer or free end of this arm 38 is connected by a long coil spring 39 (Figs.

2 and 8) to the upper rear corner of the frame A. This spring 39 biases the hopper support arms 30 and .31 toward their up-swung or forward position shown in Fig. .4 and in solid lines in Fig. 10. For the purpose of the present description, the term forward means toward the feeding end of the machine, which is the left end as shown in Fig. 2, while the term rearward means toward the discharge end.

In their up-swung position, the arms 30 and 31 are prevented from further movement under the biasing force of the spring 39 by a stop pin 40 (Fig. 2) mounted on the frame A to engage a stop plate 41 welded to extend across the forward edges of the arms 30 and 31. Thus, upon each complete bag filling cycle of the hopper actuating arms 30 and 31 -by the speed reducer arm 24, the hopper support arms 30 and 31 are swung downwardly to their lower limit of movement shown in Fig. 2 thereby extending the coil spring 39, are returned to their starting position by the tension of the coil spring 39 where they are arrested by engagement of the stop plate 41 with the stop pin 40.

This arrested, up-swung position of the hopper support arms occurs before the hopper actuating arm 24 has reached the top of its cycle. Therefore, during the portion of its cycle wherein the bolt 34 moves slidably upwardly and back along the slotted opening 37, the hopper support arms 30 and 31 dwell in their up-swung or starting position.

A hopper support or base member 43, U-shaped in cross section, is mounted on the upper ends of the arms 30 and 31,to extend lengthwise of the frame A. A tubular hopper body 44 is secured to the upper edges of this channel member to extend lengthwise thereof as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 10. The hopper body 44 has the inlet end 45 thereof flared outward and disposed along a diagonal plane indicated by the broken lines 47 in Fig. 4. This broken line 47 indicates the sloping upper front portion of a conventional type of a sheet metal housing B (Fig. 1).

A product retaining gate 50 (Figs. 2, 4, 8 and 10) is pivotally mounted on a pin 51 inserted in aligned openings in a pair of upstanding ears 52, 52 on the upper side of the hopper body 44. The gate 50 comprises a supporting arm 53, which, in the closed position of the gate as shown in Fig. 4 and the solid line position of Fig. 10, extends along the upper side of the hopper body 44. The actual gate portion 54 is substantially circular, and is curved cylindrically as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 10, its axis of curvature being the axis of the pin 51. While a relatively large clearance is shown between the periphery of the gate portion 54 and the wall of the hopper body 44 in Fig. 5, the gate portion 54 may be fitted as closely as the nature of the material to be handled requires. The gate illustrated shows a clearance suitable for the handling of celerly, carrots, tomatoes, and other products of substantial diameter.

Gravity normally maintains the gate 50 in its downward, closed position as shown in Figs. 4, and in solid lines in Fig. 10. As the hopper approaches the lower end of its swing, however, a gate actuating rod 50a, welded to extend transversely from the gate, engages a rod 5% (Figs. 3, 8 and mounted on the frame A. This 211- rests the rod 50a, and further downward movement of the hopper causes the gate to open as shown in Figs. 2, 8' and in broken lines in Fig. 10 to allow the contents of the hopper C to gravitate into a bag gripped to enclose the rear end of the hopper.

An air blast tube 55, which may be of metal tubing, is brazed to extend along the upper surface of the gate arm. 53, and is bent downwardly at 57 to extend along the rearward face of the gate portion 54. The lower end of the air blast tube 55 is bent rearwardly, and is reduced in diameter to form a jet discharge nozzle 58 from which are ejected timed air blasts for blowing open the months of bags as they are successively picked off from the bottom of a stack thereof in the bag magazine B (Fig. 2) on each downward and rearward stroke of the hopper C.

A pair of quarter- conical nose portions 59 and 60 are hingedly mounted on pivot pins 59a and 60a in ears 61, 61 on the lower quadrants of the rearward end of the hopper body 44. These hinged mountings for the nose portions 59 and 60 should be low enough on their respective quadrants to avoid undue outward swinging of their apexes, since that would exert an undue spreading force within the bag, tending to split a bag having a weak back seam or gusset. These nose portions in swinging downwardly and outwardly assist in withdrawing the bag from the magazine and spread the mouth of the bag to product-receiving condition without undue stress on the bag.

A third, semi-conical, nose portion 62 is hingedly mounted at 63 on the upper rearward end of the hopper body 44. A spring-biased arm 64 (Figs. 2 and 4) is provided on each nose portion 59 and 60 and is connected by a helical spring 65 to an outer end portion of the gate pivot pin 51.

A nose opening arm 67 is welded to extend downwardly from each quarter-conical nose portion 59 and 60 (Fig. 4). The lower ends of the arms 67 are connected to 0p posite ends of a yoke 69, the center of which is connected to the armature 70 of a solenoid 71, mounted by a bracket 72 on an arm 73 formed to extend downwardly. from the forward ends of the tops of the hopper arms 30 and 31. Energization of the solenoid 71 draws the armature 70 forwardly into the coil 74 of the solenoid and thereby swings the quarter conical nose portions 59 and 60 downwardly and outwardly against the tension of their closing springs 65, 65.

A pair of bag-gripping rods 77, 77 are welded to the cylindrical hopper body 44 to extend lengthwise along each lower quadrant thereof. Each rod 77 consists of the straight portion 78 (Fig. 4) which is welded to the hopper body 44, an outwardly offset portion 79, a second, straight, rearwardly extending portion 80, and an inwardly bent, bag-gripping rear end portion 81. Each bag gripping portion 81 has a bag engaging rubber tip 82 mounted thereon against which the quarter- conical nose portions 59 and 60 swing upon actuation by the solenoid 71 to grip a bag portion positioned therebetween.

Each rubber tip 82 has an electrical contact member 83 (Fig. 10) embedded therein, and this contact member is connected by means of an electrical conductor 84 (Fig. 10) to a conventional signal circuit (not shown) which includes the quarter- conical nose portions 59 and 60 as the other terminals. Thus in the event that a bag is not fed into position for gripping between both quarter conical nose portions 59 and 60 and their respective rubber tips 82, the signal circuit will be energized, so that the machine may be stopped promptly and necessary adjustments made, or the supply of bags replenished, as required.

A flipper tongue 87 for assisting in opening the bags is provided on the lower rear portion of the cylindrical hopper body 44. The flipper tongue 87 is secured to a pivot pin 88 which is journaled in aligned holes provided therefor in a pair of ears 88, 89 (Fig. 5) welded to the under side of the hopper body 44. A stop screw 87a is mounted on an arm 87b of the tongue to limit its downward swinging movement as shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. V

The pivot pin 88 extends outwardly toward the left as illustrated in Fig. 5, and a bell crank lever 90-is secured to its outer end. Pivotal movement of the lever 90 thus causes a corresponding swinging movement of the flipper tongue. A coil spring 91 for urging the flipper v tongue 87 upwardly to its unactuated position shown'in Fig. 4 and in solid lines in Fig. 10 is connected in tension between the rearward end of the short arm 92..o f the bell'cra'nk lever and a pin 93 secured to the support:v ing base of the hopper- C.

A flipper tongue actuating coil spring 95 is connected to. the lower end of the longer, downwardly extending arm 97 of the bell crank lever 90. This actuating spring 95 hangs loosely (Fig. 4). when the hopper support arms 30. and 31 are in their upswung position to permit the spring 91 to retain the tongue 87 in its upward position shown in Fig. 4 and in solid lines in Fig. 10. As the hopper support arms 30 and 31 begin their downward swing to lower the hopper C to its contents-discharging, bag-filling position, as shown in Fig. 2 and in broken lines in Fig. 10, the spring 95 is placed under tension sufficient to. overcome the tension of the. spring- 91 and thereby to swing the tongue 87 downwardly.

For jiggling the stack D of bags in the bag magazine B to insure that they will not hang up in the magazine, a striker rod 100 is welded to extend laterally outwardly from a side of the hopperbody 44 (Figs. 4, 5 and 8).

This pi-n 100 is positioned to strike the lower end of an arm- 101 secured to one end of a pivot pin 102 journaled in a bracket 103. The bracket 103 extends forwardly from a plate 104 forming the front of the bag magazine B. The plate 104 is secured to depend from the upper transverse portion 105 of an inverted, rectangular, U-shaped magazine frame member 107.

A coil spring 108 is connected in tension between the plate 104 and a short, upwardly extending portion of the arm 101 normally to retain it in its position (Figs. 2 and 4). A short, downwardly extending arm 109 is secured to the other end of the pivot pin 102. This short arm 109 is mounted to strike the upwardly extending portion 110 of a bag agitating lever 111 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 112 between ears 113, 133 welded to extend forwardly from the lower end of the magazine front plate 104.

A short portion 114 of the bag agitating lever 11 extends beneath the forward edge of the stack D of bags in the bag magazine B. A stop screw 115 is screwed into a threaded hole provided therefor in the upwardly extending portion 110 of the bag agitating lever 111, and is secured in adjusted position by a lock; nut 117 to strike an anvil welded onto the forward face of the plate 104 in a predetermined rotative position of the bag agitating lever 111. On each downward swing of the hopper C the striker rod 100 engages the lower end of the arm 101 and swings it in a clockwise direction from its position shown in Fig. 4, thereby causing the short arm 109 to engage the upper portion 110 of the bag agitating lever 111 and thereby move the bag agitating lever slightly in a counterclockwise direction. This causes the forward end of the stack of bags in the magazine to be joggled slightly upon each bag filling cycle of the machine and insures that the bags will continue to feed down in the magazine as the lowermost bags therein are successively removed.

A coil spring 118 held in compression between the upper end of the arm 110 and the frame plate 104 returns the bag agitating lever 111 to its normal position shown in Fig. 4 when the striker rod 100 passes beyond the arm 101. On the upward swing of the hopper, the striker pin 100 merely swings the arm 101 upwardly out of the way as it approaches its uppermost position of Fig. 4.

The bag magazine B comprises, in addition to the portions thereof described previously herein, a pair of upright, triangular side. plates 120, 120 which are secured to the top of the machine frame A by brackets 121 and 122. A box-like magazine base 123 is secured to the forwardly bent lower portion 124 of the magazine front Plate- 04 h its pp ed s a n the ncl ne uppe edges of the side plates 120, 120. The bottom of the boxl ke ba e 1 s open x ep f pa r of ba unp t s flang s 12.7, 127 whi h xten ard y r m he si e here Th hap f th s anges, an thei lo ation 6 on the lowermost g: h e ti thereon. is indica ed by the broken lines 127a, 127 in Fig. 13,.

A P i of b g g de mem er 12.3, .8 r mount d at the rear or r ght hand d: of t e ma az ne B as show in Fig. 2, and extend upwardly to support the sides of the stack D of bags in the magazine. The upper portipns 129, 129' of the. guide members 128, 128, are bent out: wardly away from each other to guide a supply of bags into properly stacked position in the magazine. A weight; 130 of suitable material such as wood is provided, to. OVQIP. lie the bags in the magazine and to urge them downwardly into proper position for feeding. A magazine end strip, 131 is mounted; centrally of the lower end of the magazine to, guide the closed ends of the2 bags.

The bags 132 (Fig. 13) preferred for use with the machine preferably are of the type which have one walk thereof (Fig. 13) cut away as at 133 at the open end ofthe bag to. expose a hole 134. in the opposite wall of' the bag. The bags are stacked in the magazine with their cut-away sides downwardly. Gravity causes the lower-. most bag in the stack to tend to assume a slightly open-L mouth position as shown in slightly exaggerated form in Fig. 2. The size of this, opening is increased by a puff of air discharged from the tube 55 and between the conie cal nose segments 59, 60. and 62 when the hopperis in its upswung position as shown in Fig. 4. i

A bag holding spindle 137 is pivotally connected to the port-ion of the bag agitating lever 111 (Fig. 4) which underlies the forward end of' the stack of bags in the magae zine. The lower portion of the spindle 137 is flattened as shown in Fig. 7, and the forward edge 138 of the flattened portion is sharpened, preferably to a razor edge, so that as each lowermost bag 1332 is pulled downwardly by a downward swing of thehopper C, with its conical nose portion inserted in the bag, the sharpened edge 138 will slit the bag material from the hole 134 therein to the mouth of the bag to free the lowermost bag from the spindle. The upper end of the spindle is provided with a triangular, sharpened point 139 (Fig. 6) forpenetrating several of the bags at a time, in the event that unperforated bags are used. The bag-piercing point 139 at the top of the spindle may be omitted when bags are pro-. vided with the perforations 134 for fitting onto the spindle without punching. The spindle 137 preferably is tapered inwardly slightly from its top to its lower end to facilitate downward feeding of the bag-s thereon. This paper may be of the order of .030" per foot.

In Figs. 12 and 14 a bag package E is illustrated, consisting of a plurality of properly stacked bags 132, enclosed within a rectangular-1y formed cardboard band 140 with overlapping end portions 141 and 142. A bag support in 143of suitable material such as wood, plastic or metal, is inserted through the holes in the bags, and through aligned holes provided therefor in opposite sides of the enclosing band 140, including the overlapping end portions 141 and 142. A washer 144 is fixedly seured on one end of the pin 143 and a collar 145 is removabl'y attached to the other end of the pin 143 to retain the ha d 140 thereon.

The end of the pin 143 having the removable collar 145 thereon has a depression 14? therein (Fig. 14). For use with this p ed pe of b th upper 6 .4 f the sp 7 1 1 is po n e o t int t e nd depression 147 of the pin 143. This assists in aligning the spindle 137a with the pin 143. For transferring the bags 132 from the package E onto the spi dle 137a, the paqlge age E is pen d a s n n. .4.0. 6 ecess 7 n the pin 143 is fitted onto the pointed end of the magazine spindle 137a, and the bags are pushed downwardly onto the spindle and are guided by the spindle and theguide members 128, 128 into properly stacked position in the m z ne A discharge chute 150 of suitable material, for example stainless steel, is mounted to receive each filled bag, 132a 7 (Figs. 2, 8 and 10), as it is released at the completion of each bag filling stroke of the machine. 7 1 A- conventional conveyor (not shown) may be provided at the lower end of the chute 150 to receive the bags and convey them to a desired point of delivery.

The timed means for operating the air blast which assists in the opening of the bag, and for operating the solenoid 71 to grip and release the bag at proper stations in the cycle of operation of the machine comprise the two cam disks 27 and 28 (Figs. 2, 8 and 9). The cams are shown in Fig. 9 in their starting positions prior to the initiation of a cycle of operation of the machine.

The cam 27 for controlling the actuation of the bag gripping solenoid 71 has the roller follower arm 152 of a switch 153 in rolling peripheral contact therewith. The switch 153 is connected in a connventional manner to energize the solenoid 71 to grip a bag in the manner described previously herein when the follower 152 is forced outwardly by the high portion 27a of the cam 27, and to de-energize it to release the bag when the follower 152 is on the low portion of the cam.

The cam 28 for controlling the discharge of air blasts from the tube 55 has the roller follower arm 154 of a conventional, normally spring closed air valve 155. When the follower 154 is forced outwardly by high portions 28a or 28b of the cam 28, the valve 155 is opened, and returns to its normally closed position when the follower 154 is on a low portion of the cam. The short high portion 28a causes the discharge of a puff of air as the hopper begins each downward swing to partially open the lowermost bag of the stack to receive the flipper tongue 87 and the pointed conical ends of the members 59, 60 and 62.

The longer high portion 28b of the cam causes the discharge of a longer blast of air into the bag during and after its final withdrawal from the magazine to insure that the bag will be fully extended and open to receive the charge of merchandise when it is released from the hopper by the opening of the gate 50.

A complete cycle of operation of the machine is indicated in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 3. As the hopper C is carried to the top of its swing by the hopper return spring 39, on the upward swing of the crank arm 24, the open forward end of the hopper C is exposed through an opening 157 (Fig. l) in the sloping front upper wall 47 of the sheet metal housing 159. A soft rubber seal 160 (Figs. 1 and 4) is provided to close a space between the hopper C and the housing wall 47 to prevent injury to an operator whose hand or fingers might inadvertently be caught therebetween. During the dwell of the hopper in this upswung position, as explained previously herein, the operator or a suitable feeding mechanism, not shown, inserts a predetermined charge of product into the hopper.

As illustrated in Fig. 10, the product is celery, but obviously the device is capable of handling a widely diverse range of products. In bagging celery, it preferably is first wetted to facilitate its entry into the plastic bags. At the completion of the dwell indicated in the diagram of Fig. 3, the hopper C begins its downward swing under the impulse of the link 29 and crank arm 31, thereby extending the hopper return spring 39.

Just prior to the beginning of the hoppers downward swing, the short high portion 28a opens the air valve 155 momentarily, causing a puff of air to be discharged from the tube 55 into the closed conical nose portion of the hopper. Enough of this air is discharged between the then closed nose portions 59, 60 and 62 to open the lowermost bag 132 sufliciently to receive the flipper tongue 87 and the apex of the conical hopper nose portions 59, 60 and 62. As the flipper tongue and pointed nose portions of the hopper enter the lowermost bag in the magazine B a distance slightly greater than that shown in solid lines in Fig. 10, the cam follower 1S2 rides onto the high portion 27a of the cam 27 to energize the solenoid 71. This energization of the solenoid swings the quarter con- '8 ical nose portions 59 and 60 outwardly to grip the low ermost bag between the nose portions 59 and 60 and their respective bag gripping arms 77.

In the event that no bag is present between either of the nose portions 59 and 60 and their respective arms 77,'a contact will be closed between the central contact button 83 (Fig. 11) and its adjacent nose portion to energize a conventional Warning signal (not shown) as mentioned previously herein. Otherwise, when properly gripped, the bag material insulates these members from each other and the signal remains inoperative. As the hopper C proceeds downwardly on its bag-filling stroke, the striker rod 100 strikes the bag agitating arm 101 to move the bag agitating member 111 to joggle the stack of bags in the magazine B. This insures that the bags will feed downward properly in the magazine.

As the hopper continues downward, it withdraws the bag gripped over the rear end of the hopper from between the flanges 127, 127 upon which it is supported as shown in solid lines in Fig. 10. At the approximate time of its withdrawal from the magazine, the follower 154 rides onto the longer high portion 28b of the cam 28, thereby subjecting the gripped bag to a second and longer blast of air.

The pivotal axis of the hopper support arms 30 and 31 is such relative to the apex of the upper semi-conical nose portion 162 and the remainder of the parts mounted on the upper portion of the hopper body 44, that these portions will clear the next lowermost bag in the magazine B as the lowermost bag is stripped therefrom (note Fig. 10). The nose members 59 and 60 of the hopper are open as this second air blast occurs, so that the full force of the blast is directed into the bag to blow it to full distended position.

During the downward swing of the hopper, the flipper tongue actuating spring 95 is placed under tension to overcome the tension of its return spring 91 and thus swings the flipper tongue 87 downwardly to hold the lower portion of the bag open and to assist in guiding the product as it passes from the hopper into the bag.

As the hopper approaches the bottom of its downward stroke, and is tilted upright, the rod 50a on the gate 50 engages the bent rod 5% on the frame. This arrests further movement of the gate, and continued downward movement of the hopper opens the gate and allows the contents of the hopper to gravitate into the bag. The weight of the product dropping into the bag swings the freely pivoted semi-conical nose portion 62 outwardly as required to allow the product to pass and to assist in guiding it into the bag.

At approximately the bottom of the hoppers downward stroke, the cam follower 1S2 rides onto the low portion of the cam 27 allowing the normally open switch 153 to return to its normal, open condition. This deenergizes the solenoid 71, to release the filled bag. The springs 65, thereupon swing the quarter conical nose portions 59 and 60 to swing to their closed positions. The released filled bag gravitates down the discharge chute 150, from whence it may pass onto a conveyor or other mechanism, not shown, for sealing, casing or other processing as desired.

On the return stroke of the hopper C under the impulse of the coil spring 39, the rod 50a is carried upwardly away from the bent gate-opening rod 50b, allowing the gate 54 to close by gravity. Further along the upward stroke of the hopper, the flipper tongue actuating spring is relieved of its tension, allowing the flipper tongue return spring 91 to swing the tongue upwardly along the now closed quarter conical nose portions 59 and 60.

Thus, when the hopper C has returned to its upswung feeding position, all of the parts have been restored to proper position for the initiation of the next bag filling cycle of the machine. I

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood however, that various changes and modifications may be 9 made in the. details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

1. A bag filling machine comprising a tubular product receiving hopper open at both ends thereof, means mounted to'move said hopper in recurring cycles along an arcuate path from axially horizontal product receiving position toaxially upright product discharging position, bag gripping means mounted on said hopper, means for fitting a bag over said bag gripping means, actuating means mounted to move said gripping means to bag grip ping position with the bag fitted thereover, a gate movably mounted to close the discharge end of the hopper during its movement from product receiving to product discharging position, and means mounted to open the gate as thehopper approaches its axially upright position to release the product in the hopper for gravitational discharge through the discharge end of the hopper into the bag gripped thereon.

2. A bag filling machine comprising a product receiving hopper having a feed opening in one end and a discharge opening in the other end thereof, means mounted to move said hopper in recurring cycles along an arcuate path from feeding to discharging position, bag gripping means mounted on said hopper, means for fitting a bag over said bag gripping means, activating means mounted to move said gripping means to bag gripping position with the bag fitted over the bag gripping means, a gate movably mounted to close the discharge end of the hopper during its movement from feeding to discharging position, and means mounted adjacent the path of movement of the gate during movement of the hopper from feeding to discharging position to engage a gate element to open the gate and release product in the hopper for gravitational discharge through the discharge opening into the bag.

3. A bag filling machine comprising a tubular product receiving hopper open at both ends thereof, means mounted to move said hopper in recurring cycles along an arcuate path from axially horizontal product receiving position to axially upright product discharging position, a plurality of radially separable bag gripping nose members mounted to extend outwardly from the end of the hopper which is lowermost in the upright position of the hopper, means for fitting a partially opened bag over said nose members, actuating means mounted to separate said nose members with the bag fitted thereon to spread the bag to open position, a gate mounted inwardly of said nose members to close the discharge end of the hopper during its movement from product receiving to product discharging position, and means mounted to engage a gate element to open the gate with the hopper in upright discharging position to release the product in the hopper for gravitational discharge past the nose members into the bag gripped thereon.

4. A bag filling mechanism comprising a product receiving hopper having a discharge opening therein, a gate mounted over the discharge opening of said hopper, drive means mounted to move said hopper in recurring cycles along a predetermined arcuate path between feeding and discharging position, a pointed, bag pick-up device mounted over the discharge end of said hopper beyond said gate, a bag magazine positioned to support a supply of bags with an endmost bag thereof in partially open condition in the path of movement of said pointed device to receive said pick-up device during movement of the hopper from feeding to discharging position, means mounted to spread portions of said bag pick-up device within a bag thereon to open the bag to product receiving condition, and means mounted to open said gate as the hopper passes beyond the bag supply to free the product for gravitational discharge into said bag.

5. A bag filling mechanism comprising a product receiving hopper having a discharge openingtherein, a gate mounted over the discharge opening of said hopper, drive means mounted to move said hopper in recurring cycles along a predetermined arcuate path between feedingv and discharging position, a plurality of nose membersmounted in relatively converging relation over the discharge end of said hopper beyond said gate, a bag magazine positioned to support a supply of bags with an endmost bag thereof inpartially open condition in the path of movement of said pointed device to receive said nose members during movement of the hopper from feeding to discharging position, a pair of gripping members mounted in outwardly spaced relation to aselected plurality of said nose members, means mounted to spread said selected nose members within a bag thereon to open the bag to product receiving condition and to grip the bag against said gripping members, and means mounted to open said gate as the hopper passes beyond the bag supply to free the product for gravitational discharge into said bag.

6. A bag filling mechanism comprising a product receiving hopper having a discharge opening therein, a gate pivotally mounted on the hopper at a point axially remote from the discharge opening of said hopper and having a closure portion thereof extending transversely of said opening, drive means mounted to move said hopper in recurring cycles along a predetermined arcuate path be-. tween feeding and discharging position, a plurality of converging bag pick-up members mounted to extend outwardly from the hopper marginally of said discharge opening, a bag magazine positioned to support a supply of bags with an endmost bag thereof in partially open condition in the path of movement of the convergent ends of said pick-up members to receive said pick-up members during movement of the hopper from feeding to discharging position, means mounted to spread the convergent ends of a plurality of said bag pick-up members within a bag thereon to open the bag to product receiving condition, and means mounted to swing said gate outwardly to withdraw the closure portion thereof from the discharge opening of said hopper at a predetermined point in its movement from feeding toward discharging position to free the product for gravitational discharge into said bag.

7. A bag filling mechanism comprising an open tubular hopper portion, means for moving the hopper portion in recurring cycles along a predetermined arcuate path from axially horizontal to axially upright position, releasable closure means mounted to close the end of said hopper portion which is downward when the body is in axially upright position, means for mounting a bag with its mouth in axial registry with the closure end of the hopper with the hopper in axially upright position, means mounted to engage the closure means as the hopper approaches upright position to withdraw the closure means for gravity discharge of product from the hopper into the bag, and actuating means to release a bag so mounted 8. A bag filling mechanism comprising an open tubular hopper portion, means for moving the hopper portion in recurring cycles along a predetermined path from axially horizontal to axially upright position, a plurality of complementary segmental conical nose members hingedly mounted marginally about the end of said hopper portion which is downward when the hopper portion is downward when the hopper portion is in axially upright position, means normally holding said segmental members in assembled conical form, bag feeding means mounted to present a bag for entry by the apex of said conical members therein upon each movement of the hopper portion from horizontal to upright position, actuating means connected to a selected plurality of said segmental members to swing them laterally apart within a bag thereon at a predetermined point in the movement of the hopper from horizontal to upright position, and a gripper member mounted outwardly of each of said latter segmental members for gripping engagement of the bag between the gripping members and their respective segmental members.

9. A bag filling mechanism comprising an open tubular hopper portion, means for moving the hopper portion in recurring cycles along a predetermined path from axially horizontal to axially upright position, a pair of complementary quarter conical nose members hingedly mounted in the lower quadrants of the end of said hopper portion which is downward when the hopper portion is in axially upright position, a complementary semi-conical nose portion hingedly mounted on the upper side of the same end of said hopper, means normally holding said conical members in assembled conical form, bag feeding means mounted to present a bag for entry by the apex of said assembled conical members upon each movement of the hopper portion from horizontal to upright position, actuating means connected to the quarter conical members to swing them laterally apart within a bag thereon at a predetermined point in the movement of the hopper from horizontal to upright position and a gripper member mounted outwardly of each of said latter conical members for arresting outward movement thereof and for gripping engagement of the bag between the gripper members and their respective quarter conical members.

10. A bag filling mechanism comprising an open tubular hopper portion, means for moving the hopper portion in recurring cycles along a predetermined path from axially horizontal to axially upright position, a plurality of bag engaging members hingedly mounted marginally about the end of said hopper portion which is downward when the hopper portion is in axially upright position, means normally urging said bag engaging members convergently toward an extension of the hopper portion axis, a fiat flipper tongue mounted outwardly adjacent the bag engaging members at one side of said hopper portion, bag feeding means mounted to present a bag for entry by said bag gripping members and said flipper tongue therein upon each movement of the hopper portion from horizontal to upright position, actuating means connected to a selected plurality of said bag engaging members to swing them laterally apart within a bag thereon at a predetermined point in the movement of the hopper from horizontal to upright position, means mounted to swing the flipper tongue outwardly to open the bag on said bag engaging members, and a gripper arm mounted outwardly of each of said selected bag engaging members for gripping engagement of the bag between the gripping members and their respective selected bag engaging members.

11. A bag filling mechanism comprising a tubular hopper portion, means for moving the hopper portion in recurring cycles from axially horizontal to axially upright position, a gate mounted to close the lower end of said hopper portion in its axially upright position, a plurality of nose members mounted atspaced intervals about the gate-closed end of the hopper portion and converging outwardly of said gate, bag feeding means mounted to present a bag in partially open condition for receipt of said convergent nose members therein, actuating means mounted to spread selected ones of said nose members apart within the bag, and means mounted to open the gate as the hopper portion approaches upright position to free product within the hopper portion for gravity discharge into the bag.

12. A bag filling mechanism comprising a tubular hopper portion, means for moving the hopper portion in recurring cycles from axially horizontal to axially upright position, a gate mounted to close the lower end of said hopper portion in its axially upright position, a plurality of nose members hingedly mounted at spaced intervals about the gate-closed end of the hopper portion and converging outwardly of said gate, bag feeding means mounted to present a bag in partially open condition for receipt of said nose members therein, actuating members mounted to spread selected ones of said nose members apart within the bag, a stop member mounted outwardly of each of said selected nose members and positioned to arrest spreading movement thereof and to grip a bag on said nose members, and means mounted to open the gate as the hopper portion approaches upright position to free product within the hopper portion for gravity discharge into the bag.

13. A bag filling mechanism comprising a tubular, open-end hopper, hopper support means mounted to move the hopper in recurring cycles along a predetermined path from axially horizontal to axially upright position, said hopper having a product receiving end and a product discharge end, the discharge end being downward in the upright position of the hopper, a pointed segmental nose assembly mounted to project from the discharge end of said hopper, a bag magazine mounted adjacent the path of movement of the hopper, means for supporting a stack of bags in the magazine with the lowermost bag thereof positioned to receive the pointed end of the hopper nose assembly during a movement of the hopper from hori- Zontal to upright position, means mounted to separate portions of said segmental nose assembly within a bag to spread the bag to open position, bag agitating means mounted beneath a forward portion of the stack of bags in the magazine, and a striker element having a portion thereof mounted in the path of movement of a hopper element during movement of the hopper from horizontal to upright position, said striker element being connected to the bag agitating element to alternately elevate and release the stack of bags in the magazine for gravitational movement of the bags to a lowermost position in the magazine.

14. A bag filling mechanism comprising a tubular, open-end hopper, hopper support means mounted to move the hopper in recurring cycles along a predetermined path from axially horizontal to axially upright position, said hopper having a product receiving end and a product discharge end, the discharge end being downward in the upright position of the hopper, a pointed segmental nose assembly mounted to project from the discharge end of said hopper, a gate mounted to close oil the discharge end of the hopper inwardly of said nose assembly, air blast means mounted on said gate, a bag magazine mounted adjacent the path of movement of the hopper, means for supporting a stack of bags in the magazine with the lowermost bag thereof positioned to receive the discharge end of the hopper during a movement of the latter from horizontal to upright position, means mounted to separate portions of said segmental nose assembly within a bag thereon to spread the bag to open position, and timed means mounted to discharge an air blast through said air blast means into a bag spread to open position on said nose assembly.

15. A bag filling mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted hopper support arm, a tubular open end product receiving hopper mounted on an end of said arm with its axis perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the arm and parallel to its plane of pivotal movement, actuating means mounted to swing the arm back and forth in recurring cycles to move the hopper along a predetermined path from axially horizontal feeding to axially upright discharging position, a plurality of complementary conic segmental nose members mounted on the end of the hopper which is lowermost when the hopper is swung to upright position, the base portions of said nose members being substantially coincident with such lower end of the hopper, means biasing said nose members toward complementary conically asssembled relation, a bag magazine mounted adjacent the path of movement of said hopper to present a bag with its open end directed toward the apex of said nose members in the horizontal position of the hopper, means for directing a jet of air into each bag presented to said nose members as the hopper moves from horizontal to upright position, means for retaining the bag over said nose members during movement of the hopper to upright position, a product retain- 13 ing gate mounted to close off the end of the hopper inwardly of said nose members, and means for withdrawing the gate to a position clear cf the hopper in an upright position of the latter to release product in the hopper for gravitational discharge between the nose members into the bag.

16. A bag filling mechanism comprising a tubular hopper mounted to move from axially horizontal to axially upright position, a plurality of complementary conic segmental nose members mounted on the end of the hopper which is lowermost when the hopper is swung to upright position, the base portions of said nose members being substantially coincident with such lower end of the hopper, means biasing said nose members toward complementary conically assembled relation, a bag magazine mounted adjacent the path of movement of said hopper to present a bag with its open end directed toward the apex of the nose members in the horizontal position of the hopper, means for retaining the bag over said nose members during movement of the hopper to upright position, a product retaining gate mounted to close off the end of the hopper adjacent said nose members, and means for withdrawing the gate to a position clear of the hopper in an upright position of the latter to release product in the hopper for gravitational discharge between the nose members into the bag.

17. A bag filling mechanism comprising a hopper support arm pivoted to swing from upright to substantially horizontal position, a product receiving hopper mounted on the free end of said arm, said hopper having a product receiving portion with a feed opening at one end thereof and a discharge opening at the other, a plurality of hingedly mounted nose sections of segmental conic shape hingedly mounted in complementary relation at spaced points about the discharge opening, means biasing said segments toward each other to define a closed, conical nose portion extending outwardly from the discharge opening of said hopper, a bag magazine mounted adjacent the path of movement of the hopper during a cycle of swinging movement of said support arm, said magazine being positioned to support a lowermost bag therein in partially open position with the mouth of the bag disposed in the path of movement of the apex end of said conic nose portion during said movement of the hopper to receive said nose portion within the open mouth of said lowermost bag, means for swinging selected segmental nose portions outwardly to spread open the mouth of a bag thereon, a pair of bag gripping arms mounted on said hopper and having gripping portions thereof disposed for engagement on said selected outswung nose portions to grip a bag between the gripping arms and said selected nose portions, means for retaining products in the hopper during movement thereof from horizontal to upright position, means for releasing the product for gravitational discharge through the discharge opening in said hopper and between the segmental nose portions into a bag gripped between said selected nose portions and said gripping arms, and means for releasing the nose portions from gripping engagement with the gripping arms at a predetermined point in the movement of the hopper from horizontal to upright position to release the filled bag for gravitational movement from the hopper and nose portions.

18. A bag filling mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted hopper support arm, a tubular hopper mounted on the free end of said arm, actuating means mounted pivotally to move said arm to swing the hopper in recurring cycles along a predetermined path from axially horizontal to axially upright position, bag pickup means mounted on the end of said hopper which is lowermost in the axially upright position of the hopper, a bag magazine mounted adjacent the path of said hopper in position to present an endmost bag in said magazine to the 14 bag pick-up device, and a rod mounted in axially upright position in said magazine threadedly to receive bags thereon, said rod being tapered inwardly toward its lower end to facilitate downward feeding of the bags threaded on the rod.

19. A bag filling mechanism comprising a tubular hopper portion having a product charging end and a discharge end, means for moving the hopper portion in recurring cycles through a predetermined arcuate path from a substantially axially horizontal to a substantially axially vertical position, a plurality of convergent nose members mounted pivotally on said hopper proximate said discharge end, bag feeding means mounted to present a bag in partially open position for receipt of said nose members, and actuating means to spread apart selected nose members.

20. A bag filling mechanism comprising a tubular hopper portion having a product charging end and a discharge end, means for moving the hopper portion in recurring cycles through a predetermined arcuate path from a substantially axially horizontal to a substantially axially vertical position, a plurality of convergent nose members mounted pivotally on said hopper proximate said discharge end, bag feeding means mounted to present a bag in partially open position for receipt of said nose members, actuating means to spread apart selected nose members, and a bag gripper member positioned for gripping engagement with a bag disposed on said nose members when said selected nose members are spread apart.

21. A bag filling mechanism comprising a tubular hopper portion having a product charging end and a discharge end, means for moving the hopper portion in recurring cycles through a predetermined arcuate path from a substantially axially horizontal to a substantially axially vertical position, a plurality of convergent nose members mounted pivotally on said hopper proximate said discharge end, bag feeding means mounted to present a bag in partially open position for receipt of said nose members, and means to open and close said nose members at predetermined points during cyclical movement of the said hopper portion.

22. A bag filling mechanism comprising a hopper portion having a discharge end and a product loading end, means to move said hopper through a predetermined path from loading position to discharge position and from discharge position to loading position in recurring cycles of movement, a plurality of nose members mounted pivotally on said hopper portion and projecting forwardly thereof, means to spread apart a selected plurality of said nose members, and bag gripper means arranged and positioned to coact with at least one of said selected spreadable nose members to grip therebetween a bag positioned on said nose members.

23. A bag filling mechanism according to claim 22 and wherein a bag magazine is mounted adjacent the path of movement of said hopper portion, means to support a plurality of bags in said magazine with the lowermost bag disposed in open position to receive said nose members therein.

24. A bag filling mechanism according to claim 23 and wherein means is provided to open said lowermost bag comprising pneumatic blower means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,527,030 Delamere et al. Feb. 17, 1925 1,830,645 Dietsch Nov. 3, 1931 1,935,836 Du Vander Nov. 21, 1933 2,084,711 Smith June 22, 1937 2,376,289 Stenglein May 15, 1945 2,601,480 Williams June 24, 1952

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